Church Sermon - September 26, 2004

Rev. Bernt P. Tweit

Epistle Lesson; 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Old Testament Lesson; Exodus 32:7-14
Sermon Text; Luke 15:1-10

Twenty years ago our family vacation took us out to California, where we were there to visit with family and friends. We had a free day, so my parents took us to Disney Land for the day. We had enjoyed a wonderful day at Disney Land, night was starting to fall, and the theme park was preparing for its nightly fireworks display. My parents thought that it would be good for us, as a family, to go to the front gate, so that when the fireworks were over, we could be closer to our car and beat the congestion, as everyone was leaving the park.

We were on our way to the front gate, when my oldest sister stopped for a moment to tie her shoe. When she stood back up, the rest of the family was nowhere to be seen. I am not sure how much time had passed by, but pretty quickly my parents realized that one of us children was not with the group. There was a little bit of a mild panic (maybe a great panic) that took place. The four children, my grandma, and mom all gathered together, while my dad went off to search for my sister. It seemed like an eternity, but after a period of time, my dad found my sister.

Now, it was not that my parents loved us other children less than her. But, the one who was lost was found. And, there was great rejoicing that she was found.

In our sermon text for today, Jesus was speaking with two groups of people. He was talking to the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law. He was also talking to sinners and tax collectors. We would think that the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law would be the ones who would want to hear from Jesus. And we would think that the tax collectors and sinners would despise Jesus. And yet, it is just the other way around. The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law despised Jesus. We know how they tried to trip Him up. And, we know that ultimately they put Jesus on the cross. The sinners and the tax collectors (who we thought would despise Jesus) welcomed Jesus and ran to Him, because Jesus cared about them. That is who Jesus came for. He came to seek and to save those who are lost.

From our scripture text this morning, it is important for us to realize that the one coin that was lost was no more valuable than the nine that were not lost. And, with the sheep, the one sheep that was lost was no more valuable than the ninety-nine that were not lost. They were all valuable. They were all important.

Today we remember, once again, that Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost. Let us look at the different attitudes that Jesus has for those who are lost.

I. Share Jesus Caring Attitude

First of all, Jesus has a very loving and caring attitude for those who are lost. I wonder if sometimes we have the attitude of the Pharisees. We say with them, "Jesus welcomes sinners and He eats with them." Sometimes it is easy for that sinful, selfish attitude (like that of the Pharisees) to come into our lives. We may even say that about church work. We in the church, here at Holy Cross, might say, "The church is only concerned about the young people. We have a Christian Day School here at Holy Cross. A large portion of our budget goes for those young people, and those who are in high school. But, once people have left high school, we are not as concerned about them." Or maybe we, in the church, we say, "The church is only concerned about those who are outside of the church. We have a large evangelism budget to reach out to others, but are not concerned about us, who are inside the church."

This morning we need to realize that everybody is important, whether we are young or old, whether we are inside of the church or outside of the church. Today we saw the loving and caring attitude that the woman had for the coin that was lost. We saw the loving and caring attitude the shepherd had for the one sheep that was lost. That reminds us of the loving and caring attitude Jesus has for those of us who are found, but also for those who are lost.

Let us ask the question, who is the church concerned about - those coming into the church, or is the church concerned about those who are inside the church? I have a cup, and in the bottom I put a hole. Let us say that the cup represents the church. The water in this pitcher represents people. Now, what can we do, in order to keep the church full, in order to keep this cup full, as members or as people come into the church? I can keep pouring water into the cup, to make sure that it stays full, but while I am doing that, water is leaking out of the hole. Or, I can plug the hole and pour water into the cup so that it overflows over the top.

Who is it that the church should be concerned about? Not only is it those who are inside the church, (as we have ministries to nourish and sustain us in our faith), but also to reach out to those who are outside the church. Then those of us who are within the church and are lost may be found, and those who are outside the church who are lost may be found, as well.

May we have that loving and caring attitude, just as Jesus has.

You are important. You are valuable, just as those who are outside the church are important and valuable.

II. Imitate Jesus Tireless Seeking

In our scripture reading for today, we see not only the loving and caring attitude that Jesus has, but we also see how He tirelessly searches after those who are lost. Remember, it was my dad, in Disney Land, who tirelessly sought after my sister who was lost. It was the woman who tirelessly swept out her house, until she found that one coin that was lost. It was the shepherd who searched tirelessly, until he found that one sheep that was lost. And so, what are we able to do, to tirelessly search after those who are lost? First of all, we can keep those who are lost in our prayers. Secondly, we can offer ministries to those who are lost and those who have been found - ministries to nurture us and sustain us, but also ministries to reach out to those who are outside the church. That is evangelism. Reaching out to those who may be lost inside the church is membership.

Five years ago I heard the story of a well-known string player. His name is Yo Yo Ma. He played a concert in New York, at Carnegie Hall, went to his hotel that night, rested up, and the next day had another performance. He went down to the entrance of the hotel, hailed a cab, put his cello in the trunk, and got a ride across town. He got out of the cab, paid for the fare, and got a receipt. But, before he realized what happened, the cab left, and his cello was still in the trunk.

It was not just an ordinary cello. It was one that had been handcrafted in Vienna, in 1773. It was appraised, valued, and insured for two and a half million dollars!

You can imagine how tirelessly he sought after that cello! On the receipt was the identification number for the driver and also for the car. By the end of the night, the taxi was located. And when they opened the trunk, there was his cello. The cello that was lost had been found.

If he was willing to persist and search after something that will eventually someday be destroyed, how much more we should tirelessly search after a soul, a human being. Let us look around us this morning. Is there somebody who is not in our presence, who may be lost? May we tirelessly search after them, just as Jesus has tirelessly sought after us!

III. Experience Jesus Warm Welcome

And then, may we finally show the warm welcoming that Jesus, our Savior, has for sinners. When the coin was found, the woman threw a party, and told her friends and family, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin." When the shepherd found the one sheep that was lost, he laid it on his shoulders. He told his friends and family, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." Notice what our scripture reading says for today, when it talks about a sinner or a soul who was lost and is found.

"I tell you that in the same way

there is more rejoicing in Heaven

over one sinner who repents,

than over ninety-nine righteous persons

who do not need to repent."

"I tell you,

there is rejoicing

in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents."

My sister in Disney Land, twenty years ago, was lost but she was found. My dad lovingly and caringly searched for her, and warmly welcomed her back when she was found. May God bless us with those same attitudes that Christ has given to us of a very loving and caring attitude, tirelessly reaching out to others and warmly welcoming them back, when we see them. How thankful we are that Jesus has found us! We, who are sinners, have been found. May we reach out to others with that message of salvation.

Forgiveness of sins is

for all people.

is important and

valuable

in God’s sight!

May you enjoy that blessing of eternal life with Him in Heaven, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

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